If childbirth is so excruciatingly painful why do women do it again and again?

Question

Additional Details

I burnt my hand on the iron once...I ain't never doing that again!

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Sometimes, things can hurt a lot (physically or mentally), but the result is worth it, and that is so much bigger than the pain. There's no comparison of the momentary (well, not momentary, more like day's worth) pain of childbirth to the lifetime of joy that a baby, a son or daughter brings into the world.

The same is true with love. Getting your heart broken or losing someone you love brings excruciating pain mentally. But if your love died and you were asked if you would go through it all again even knowing you'll come to the same end, with the same pain, you would do it again in a heartbeat.

Answer 2

Because, like any intense pain, once it's over, you can remember that it was painful, but not remember the actual sensations of pain themselves.

Answer 3

because we can take pain over and over again, unlike men!!!

Answer 4

Because even though it is the worst pain on this earth it is one of the most magical experiences

Answer 5

its not excrutiating so much as looonnnggg. drawn out pain is the worst, but it's not like we're thinking of the pain when we get pregnant.... atleast i know i wasn't

Answer 6

Because you get something truly wonderful & life changing from it. Unlike when you burn your hand on the iron.

Answer 7

Cos were not a bunch of lightweights like men!!
And theres something amazing at the end of it.

Answer 8

most women who have expienced painful childbirth will tell you that almost always the pain is forgotten as soon as you hold the wee one in your arms.

Then again there are those women who never experience pain during childbirth...but they are few and very far between.

Mother Nature is surely something else...thank God.

Answer 9

because our beautiful babies are so cute!

I think women are wussies lol

I have a high pain tolerance, but when I had my baby- I did it natural (not by choice, no time for epidural).. and I thought it would hurt like 100%, but it only hurt like 14%.

I think women psyche themselves out, and think it hurts, so it does. I think the epidural isn't as necessary as it's played out to be.

I tore down there, and I felt every stitch when I got sewn back up. Yep, and for some reason, it didn't really hurt.. it was more of a part of childbirth that I was suppose to endure.

And, right away you think it hurt... but as time goes on, you kinda forget how horrible it was- and your baby gets cuter, and looks more like a little person, and you want another one =)

I gave birth as a teenager, some say that would be harder... but I'm planning to get pregnant this coming year of 2008. But I don't think birth was that hard. I won't lie- I was scared to death and I'll be scared to death again, but again-- it's the psyche yourself out thing that gets you.

I'm terrified of C-section. But my baby is so cute I'm willing to risk another birth. (In fact, I want 3 kids)

Answer 10

Cause it doesn't hurt as bad for many women as everyone makes it out. Given birth three times, that I remember and once that I blocked out, and honestly I could do it again standing on my head. With the last kid, i set down my rummy hand, pushed once, wiped the sweat off my brow and finished my game while the nurses cleaned the baby. Went out for a cigarette an hour later. For some women, the "labor hurts so bad" thing is a power play against men because they will never be able to prove we're exaggerating.

Answer 11

because of what you get, you would do anything for your kids

Answer 12

do you want to have sex again and again?then you'll have more babies. so? the babies need to be delivered by childbirth

Answer 13

because unlike burning your hand on an iron you get something amazing at the end of it !!!! The outcome much outweighs any pain and suffering

Answer 14

yes it is very painful but the end result is so rewarding and thats why woman do it again, plus some woman say they forget the pain until it comes around to their next baby and all the memories come flooding back lol xxxx

Answer 15

This is a very good question, and one I have wonderd myself even as a mother of two.
The memory of the pain fades over time, then you want another baby and talk yourself in to it, telling yoursef 'it wasn't that bad last time' then low and behold at the end of the nine months you find out that actually it was!
But it's something that we have to go through if we want children, there is only so much getting away from it, and although at the time it feels like you are going to split in two, knowing that it's not going to last forever or (hopefully not) damage you permanantly makes it easier to put yourself through it again.

p.s please take miss my baby gurl's comment with a pinch of salt, it paints a very dim view of women in general and is not very accurate.

Answer 16

Because no matter what pain anguish and anything else pregnancy and birth throws at you, you know it was all worth it when you hold your little bundle for the first time, There realy isnt anything more magical than cradling your new born after all that pain.

Answer 17

This sounds cheesey, but once you hold that baby in your arms, all the pain is worth it. To know that you created that precious little baby is amazing. Also as time goes by you remember that it was painful, but you forget how painful.

Answer 18

because i wanted a family of my own that included my child having a brother or sister. Yes it hurts but, come on it's only pain it don't last forever the bond you'll have with your child is forever.

Answer 19

It isn't the worst pain - renal colic beats it hands down, and men can get that, too.
The main parts of the pain are the build-up to the actual birth - imagine the most awful graunching you get when you have an intestinal bug/food poisoning/the runs and scale that up a bit in intensity. That will give you an idea of how it feels.
The last intense part is "the ring of fire" when the baby's head is born - but by then, you know it's virtually over.
I well remember - first baby - half-way through the process, saying to the Midwife "I think I've changed my mind"!

Answer 20

Maybe you've been informed by films.

Childbirth is a natural experience; hard work at times and exquisitely emotional. It is uncomfortable but not "excruciatingly painful".

If you ever see real birth footage, you'll see a mother overjoyed and bursting with love and happiness - where did the idea of "pain" come from?

rgds
MM

Answer 21

Lol. Ha ha. I was going to ask this question.
I respect the answers given and wish that women would focus on that instead of banging on about how no man could go through that pain.

Answer 22

Hello,

(ANS) Ahhh!! theres a question??

The answer is probably because women LOVE SEX !!. Sex and intimacy & love are a bond that glue a relationship together, & children are another strong bond that keep couples or families together.

**Sex is also called "Making Love" but this seems to get forgotten these days, perhaps I would be called old fashioned to use that term. Sex is often seen more as yet another sporting activity not a vital element of relationships?

**Women I suspect have children because they want them, need them love them its quite simple I think. Women are incredibly powerful because they give birth and I don't think many men would want to go through that level of pain unless the pay back was worth it. I think the pay back i.e. a new life is worth the pain. But what do I know I'm male so I cannot talk from direct experience, perhaps I should shut up now?? :-)

Ivan

Answer 23

I was talking about being in labour with my mum last night and she said, she remembers it must have been bad (as she remembers thinking she was going to DIE) but can't actually remember the pain. And you get a beautiful child from it which is the best thing anyone can ask for..!!

Answer 24

its the most forfilling moment of your life thats why and believe me the high can not be beaten by anything else.the overwelming love you feel for your new born makes all the pain worth while anyway. i may be strange but i LOVED my labor gl x

Answer 25

Its a small price to pay to make a miracle (a life).

Answer 26

I had back labour and i didn't think it was that painful to be honest i had pethidine as pain relief but that's all it's not so bad but i have a high pain threshold though

Answer 27

For most women, the pain is worth it. To see that gorgeous face of something that has been created by you and someone else and that has grown inside you for a number of months is all worth the pain. Plus, im sure that some women experience soo much pain that by the time they come about for round 2 or round three they may have forgotten the extent of how painful it can be. But the pain isnt something thats focused on during their pregnancy and after. Its the beautiful child they have to show for all their hard work.

Answer 28

I think I would rather burn my hand on the iron.....

Answer 29

ahhh this is definaltly a man that wrote this, lol, well if woman didnt do there would be no life and we would become extinct, but the pain you experience in childbirth is nothing compared to the joy you get when you hold that baby of yours that you have created, nothing can compare with that and the pain is worth it, the pain you felt with the iron is a bad pain and no good is going to come out of it, all your going to end up with is a scar.

Answer 30

Because we like sex and no contraception is 100%
Also cos we love having kids - kinda daft sounding but the memory of the pain goes - well for childbirth it does but the next 18 years ear ache makes up for that!

Answer 31

Who knows? I only have one child and i have not forgotton how bad it hurts. I had a c-section..
Some people will say "ah you forget the pain" well whoever they are i do not see how you can forget that kind of pain.

My mom had 7 kids and i do not see how but i guess she is a better woman than i because there is no way i would go through that much pain. But when you want kids you will go through anything.
I would not take back all the pain of having my son but i have not forgot, so i don't know if i will have anymore or not.